Handle for sheet-metal caskets.



PATENTED NOV. 21, l905. G. NIERSTHEIMER, DEG'D.

M J NIERSTHEIMER EXEOUTRIX Duje/ymer HANDLE FOR SHEET METAL GASKETS.

APPLIOATION PILED Nov. 9, 1903.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

GEORGE NIERSTHEIMER, OF NEVVPORT, KENTUCKY; MARY EMIMA NIERSTHEIMER EXECUTRIX OF SAID GEORGE NIERSTHEIMER,

DECEASED.

HNDLE FOR SHEET-METAL CASKETS.

No. 804,&75.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Nov. 21, 1905.

A li ti fil d November 9, 1903. Serial No. 180A35.

To all whom it necy concern:

Be it known that I, GEORGE NIERSTHEIMER, a citizen of the United States, and a resident of the city of Newport, in the eounty of Campbell and State of Kentucky, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Sheet- Metal Caskets, of which the following is a specification.

One of the principal objects of my invention is to provide new, economical, and acceptable means for equipping burial cofiins and caskets with handles.

The several 'features of my invention and the various advantages resulting from their use conjointly or otherwise will be apparent from the following description and claims.

I will now proceed to deseribemy invention in detail,

In the accompanyin'g drawings, making a part of this application, and in whichsimilar letters of reference indicate corresponding parts, Figure 1 is a view of a portion of the body of a casket-to wit, the end and the parts near' the end-the same being shown in perspective. Fg. 2 is a perspective view of the outer side of a part of the casket and is presented to illustrate an improved Construction for the connection of the handles to the casket-body.

The bottom A of the casket is a broad sheet of thin metal. This extends toward each side as far as the point E. An upright sheet A extends upward as far as the fiange A and there is provided with a horizontal flange A extending outwardly. An ornamental basal edge molding B is present at the oute' edge of the bottom on every side, and this gives to the base a symmetrical appearance. This basal ornament consists of a bottom B which is preferably one with the bottom A, and a side B the latter representing a molding. At the location B* the molding is flat and comes against the flange A heretofore mentioned, and is there soldered or otherwise securely fastened thereto. From this location the sheet metal of the molding is continued upward and constitutes the metal side C of the casket. As it is a feature of the construction that Stiflening-pieces of Wood shall be combined with the thin metallic sheet, I form the side sheet C so as to receive the main side wooden piece or strip or panel I, to wit: The sheet metal is bent in at 0 then extends up, and is then bent out at 0 It is then extended up and for ornamental purposes is bent out and around at C It is next formed to receive a top stifl'- ening-rail K, prefera'bly of wood and preferably in one piece as far as the ends of the casket. The end is com posed of additional pieces; Where the end is not curved or made of faces, the end section is usually in one piece. In the drawings the end of the casket has side faces F F and an end F. The formation of the sheet metal to properly embrace this rail consists in the upward extension C and the top (3 and the downward extension 0 VVithin the parts C (3 and (l of the bent sheet lies the top rail K. The panel I is Secured to the plate C by nails driven through the wood and metal and bent down on the inner side of the metal and covered with solder; but it can be secured by screws, &0. ing the Wood to the metal may be varied at pleasure. Between the panel I and the rail K is another stifiening piece or rail of-wood J. This rests on the bend (3 and extends to the body or molding 0 This rail J lies inside of the part C* of the metal wall C. lt is preferably Secured by nails, and while the inner ends are clenched they are not covered with solder. At each lower corner where the sheetmetal bottom and the sheet metal join there is located a beam or strip H H, preferably secured by nails. These beams and rails H, I, J, and K are also present at each end and serve to impart to the bottom and sides and ends of sheet metal the requiste stiffness against lateralfiexure transverse to the length of these stifening-pieces.

In case the casket requires bracing or strengthening or beautifying structurally or otherwise the same is to be done by suitable means in any proper manner.

I provide a novel mode of connecting the handles R to the casket. These handles may be of the old-fashioned kind; but their escutcheon parts R are formed with dovetail recesses R These embrace a bar R of a dovetail shape in cross-section. This bar R is Secured to the side of the casket, preferably to the wooden rail I. Such a construction enables the escutcheons to be readily located in place on the cofiin, and thus attached thereto. Although, as heretofore suggested, the

handles may be connected rigidly to the lug o' escutcheon portions, the handles are pref- The particular means for 'secur- IOO erably secured to the lug or escutcheon portions R by a hinge connection. One form of such hinge connection is illustrated in the drawings. Thehandles need not be put on the cofin during any transit of the latter, especially prior to receiving the corpse. When needed, the escutcheons of the handles can be slipped onto the bar, and thus the handles be p`ut in place. The handles can be prevented from slipping by a nail or nails, screw or screws connecting the escutcheon to the wood.

Of course the wooden lining is Secured to the metal in a suitable manner, and where this lining is of two or more pieces the same are firmly united.

The device for connecting the handle to the coifin-body. although primarily designed for a cofin made of metal, either in whole or in part, is also applicable to coffins of other materials and makes, and I claim its application to such other coffins.

It is to be understood that the terms "casket and cofl'n are used interchangeably in this specification and in the claims. It is to be understood that the word casket as herein used includes the various kinds of coffins and of burial-caskets to which my improvements are severally or jointly applicable. Where the rails or strips are alluded to as rail or "strip" in the claims, it is to be interpreted as the same made up ot' two or more pieces wherever the said interpretation is necessary to efi'ectuate the feature or features of the clairns.

What I claim as new, and of my invention,

- and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

1. In a coffin, the combination of a sheetmetal body and the wooden panel I and dovetail projection or projections, and the handles having lugs or escutcheons provided with dovetail recesses adapted to receive the dovetailed projection or projections, and 'thereby connect the handle to the coffin-body, substantially as and for the purposes specified.

2. Ina coffin, the combination of a body and a dovetail projection or projections, and the handle having dovetailed lugs or escutcheons, adapted to receive and embrace the same, substantially as and for the puposes specified.

3. In a cofin, the combination of a sheetmetal body and the wooden panel I and dovetail projection or projections, and the handles having lugs or escutcheons provided with dovetail recesses adapted to receive the dovetailed projection or projections, and thereby connect the handle to the coffin-body, the handle being hinged to the said lug or lugs, substantially as and for the purposes specified. v 4:. In a coflin, thecombinaton of a body and a dovetail projection or projections and the handle having'dovetailed lugs or escutcheons, adapted to receive and embrace the same, the handle being hinged to the said lug or lugs, su bstantially as and for the purposes specified.

5. In a coffin, the conbination of abody and a separable handle, and dovetail connections between said body and said handle, for enabling the handle to be readily put into place, and be held there, and vice Versa, substantially as and for the puposes specified.

6. In a coffin, the combination of a sheetmetal side made substantially as described, and a wooden panel, and a separable handle, and dovetail connections between said body and said handle, for enabling the handle to be readily adjusted to position, and be Secured thereto, and Vice versa, substantially as and for the purposes specified.

7. In a cofiin, the combination of a bodypanel, a handle, and dovetail connections between the handle and the paneLSubstantially as and for the purposes specified.

In testimony whereof l have signed my name to this specification in the presence of two subscrbng witnesses.

GEORGE NIERSTHEIMER.

Attest:

SAMUEL A. WEST, R. SMITH. 

